SALT LAKE CITY — Primary children worldwide will look to new leadership following the announcement of a new Primary general presidency, in the Saturday afternoon session of the 186th Annual General Conference.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, announced Sister Joy D. Jones as the new Primary general president; Sister Jean B. Bingham, first counselor; and Sister Bonnie H. Cordon, second counselor, for the sustaining vote of church members.
The new presidency replaces Sister Rosemary M. Wixom and her two counselors, Sister Cheryl A. Esplin and Sister Mary R. Durham, who were released Saturday.
The Primary presidency serves under the direction of the First Presidency and oversees the gospel instruction of children ages 18 months to 11 years. General presidency members frequently travel around the world teaching children and offering support to local leaders.
Before her call as president, Sister Jones served on the LDS Church's Primary general board for six years. The Oregon native has held many church leadership callings and holds a degree in home and family sciences from Brigham Young University. She and her husband, Robert B. Jones, have five children and 17 grandchildren with another on the way.
Sister Bingham also served on the Primary general board for six years. She has held leadership callings and served as a seminary teacher. She earned a master's degree at BYU and is married to Bruce Bingham. The couple has two daughters.
Sister Cordon comes to the Primary general presidency with extensive missionary experience. She recently served with her husband, Derek, who presided over the Brazil Curitiba Mission from 2010 to 2013. Sister Cordon served a mission of her own in Portugal from 1982 to 1983. The Idaho Falls native has a degree in education from BYU. She and her husband are the parents of three boys and one girl.
Sister Wixom and Sister Esplin served together in the Primary general presidency for six years. Sister Jean A. Stevens served with them in the presidency until April 2015, when she was released to accompany her husband in his call to preside over the England London Mission. At that time, Sister Durham was called to fill the vacancy left by Sister Stevens.
Sister Durham spoke in the Saturday Morning session of the conference.
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